Saudi Arabia–Pakistan Defense Pact: A Strategic Earthquake in the Middle East
- By Thetripurapost Web Desk, Dubai
- Sep 18, 2025
- 575
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif signed a mutual defense agreement in Riyadh. The pact stipulates that an attack on one country will be considered an attack on the other, extending to all forms of military cooperation—including, as a senior Saudi official confirmed, Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal if necessary.
This agreement marks a strategic realignment in Middle Eastern geopolitics, potentially reshaping alliances, security calculations, and nuclear deterrence strategies across the Islamic world.
Key Elements of the Pact
Mutual Defense Clause: The strongest form of bilateral security guarantee outside NATO.
Military Integration: Covers joint exercises, arms cooperation, intelligence sharing, and defense industry ties.
Nuclear Umbrella: Pakistan’s nuclear capability implicitly extends to Saudi Arabia.
High-Level Attendance: Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Finance Minister Aurangzeb were present at the signing.
Geopolitical Context
Israel’s Strike on Hamas in Qatar (Sept 9): Attempted assassination of Khalil al-Hayya triggered a Muslim solidarity wave.
Islamic Leaders’ Doha Meeting (Sept 14): Pakistan proposed a NATO-style Islamic defense alliance.
Saudi Dissatisfaction with US: Growing doubts about Washington’s reliability, especially amid US-Israel tensions and shifting US priorities to Asia-Pacific.
Historic Nuclear Speculation: Long-standing rumors suggested Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal could serve as Saudi’s “off-the-shelf deterrent.” This pact fuels those claims.
Strategic Implications
1. Middle East Nuclearization
Saudi Arabia gains de facto nuclear backing without building its own arsenal.
Israel faces the possibility of Pakistan’s long-range missiles being indirectly tied to Riyadh’s defense.
2. Regional Balances of Power
Iran: Sees this as a hostile move, despite its recent rapprochement with Riyadh.
Turkey & Qatar: May align more closely with Pakistan-Saudi axis, creating a counterweight to Israel.
Israel: Faces a two-front strategic dilemma—nuclear Pakistan + hostile Arab coalitions.
3. Global Security Order
US: Loses exclusivity as Saudi’s protector; risks erosion of influence in the Gulf.
China: Benefits from Pakistan-Saudi synergy, deepening its Belt & Road foothold.
Russia: May quietly welcome the weakening of US grip in the Middle East.
Unanswered Questions
Secret Protocols?: Are there undisclosed clauses on nuclear sharing or troop deployments?
Implementation Path: Will there be joint command centers, bases, or integrated defense systems?
Next Steps: Does this pave the way for a formal Islamic Defense Alliance led by Pakistan?
Future Scenarios
1. Nuclear Umbrella in Action
Saudi Arabia comes under attack (by Iran or Israel).
Pakistan signals readiness to deploy nuclear deterrence.
Outcome: Middle East enters a nuclear standoff, destabilizing global markets.
2. Formation of Islamic NATO
Doha meeting evolves into a formal pact with Turkey, Qatar, and others joining.
Saudi-Pakistan axis becomes the military backbone of the Muslim world.
Outcome: New power bloc challenges both Israel and Western dominance.
3. US–Saudi Rift Widens
Washington views the pact as Saudi drifting out of its orbit.
US pressures Riyadh via arms sales and economic leverage.
Outcome: Saudi accelerates tilt toward China–Pakistan bloc.
4. Israeli Pre-emptive Strategy
Israel perceives existential risk from Saudi-Pakistan nuclear axis.
Covert or overt operations target Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure.
Outcome: Escalation into a broader regional or global crisis.
Conclusion
The Saudi–Pakistan defense pact is not just another bilateral agreement; it is a geostrategic earthquake. For the first time, Riyadh has openly tied its defense to Pakistan’s military—and by extension, its nuclear shield.